Vermillion rockfish have continued to be a strong catch in deeper water. Photo Courtesy of Dana Wharf Sportfishing & Whale Watching

Water conditions continued to be strong, and the Halibut Derby charged on at Dana Wharf Sportfishing & Whale Watching.

In his weekly report, Captain Brian Wooley said the waters were super clean once again with temperatures hovering between 65-67 degrees.

Woolley said the half-day trips saw good action nearly every day of the week, with both sand bass and calico bass coming in. The bass were being caught on the surface with flylined baits and rubber lures.

The trips also used some “exotic” bait such as shrimp and clams to pull in some sheephead.

Out in deeper water, the rockfish varieties remained in large supply for the three-quarter day trips. The rockfish took a liking to the sardine bait as well as the coltsniper jigs. The action on skipjack slowed a little as Woolley said it’s been “mostly show and no bite.”

In the Halibut Derby, the leaderboard continued to grow. There are now 17 entries on the board, with some recent catches sliding up near the top. Six entries are 10 pounds and over, including a 19-pounder from last weekend’s drift trips. However, the leader is still a 25-pounder caught on the first drift trip of the season.